New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-11-30
Homestead at the theatre In order 10 give room for
those who TO this extraordinarily popular play.
LEE And THE ARMY he SURRENDERED.


ALETrER FROM GEORGE GARY EGGLEsToN.
To the Edftor OF The Trtbuns>
SIR In your review OF the third volume OF Apple
toms CycloIaedla of American Biography, printed on
Sunday, there is mention Of my article on General
Robert f. Leo, which is so kind in its tone that re-
greet tho necessity OF seeming to complain of any
thing in It, 1t seems necessary, however. to write
this note, not by way of complaining OF any injustice,
for there has been done intended but merely
to set myself right upon point concerning which you
have apparently misunderstood me. You write:
Tho tone OF the article Is so candid that We ere sur
prscd to find It giving counlenancc to the familiar
miscOnceptlon that Loo continued the contest until his
force was reduced to less than 10000 men The re-
sistance of the Army of Virginia practically ended
with tho evacuation Of Petersburg and Richmond,
when Ices strength is supposed to have been nearly
attempt to escape from Grant, who followed hard
and 1t when no could fee longer that he sur
rendered at Appomattox, not 10000 men but $4,000
Now, except as To the last clause quoted above
therc Is no real difference between my statement OF
tho matter and the you give, except that mlne
was necessarily made brief possible, by reason OF
tho sharp limits set to tho article by the conditions Of
publication ! wrotoi
Leo mado an Intellectual attempt to retreat from
Pete sburg and Rlchmondl end form a junction with
the head OF Grants column was so far in advance on
upper James river, Capturing large portion Of his
force, and the small remnant In state Of actual star
Court House. its total strength being fower than
10000 mon
In wrItng-under conditions imperatively requir-
Ing brcvityI had no thought Of suggesting that Lees
weakness OF force at Appomattox In any way repre-
sented his condition upon leaving Petersburg and
Richmond On tho contrary purposely mentioned
tho fact that largo part Of his force had boon cap
tured during tho retreat I might have added, II
thore had been space and occasion, that many thou
sands OF his men had given tho matter up and wan
dercd away to their homes elsewhere and that still
others were away In search Of food TO eat These do
tails seemed out OF place In cyolOpBda article, the
junction OF which Is to give the befost possible state
mcnt OF the principal facts only.
AS to the number OF men surrendered at Appomat-
t0x, the difference between your estimate and my
IS apparent rathor than real Your figures include
tho men who were paroled during tho fortnight fol-
remnant" OF tho army which actually present at
AppOmattoN at tho timo
1t Is very generous in You to wish that my estimate
or General Lee a military commander had been
MORO ekalted than IL Is can only say that when
ms began 10 write Of tho Civil War many years ago
In Tho Atlantic Monthly and occasionally in THE
fly followed namely, to put aside every cOnsidcra-
ton except love for the truth, to uso my utmost en-
deavor In every case TO find out truth, and having
found to tell IL to Judge OF mon and events fairly
IN my writings the exact opinions to which impartial
study has led In that spirit | have written OF
INC character and work Of tho great Confederate chief
tain No man rcvcrrs his character more than do
forth these matters have sought TO write OF them
win discrimination. and am firmly persuaded that
General Leo would have desired that rathor than IN
discriminate praise. Tho estimate OF him which *
presented In tho article "a high. and II II does
not accord to him qualities commander superior
to those OF all other great military men, neither. /
respectfully yours, GEORGE CARY EGGLEsTOv
me Commercial Adrertiser Neic York. Nov. 20. 1897.